Small incision lenticule extraction: 3-years clinical follow-up

Session Details

Session Title: Femtosecond Small Lenticule Extraction II

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 08/09/2015 | 16:30-18:30

Paper Time: 16:42

Venue: Room 17

First Author: : A.Ivarsen DENMARK

Co Author(s): :    I. Bach Pedersen   J. Hjortdal                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To report the clinical outcome 3 years after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopia of more than -6 diopters (D).

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

Methods:

A total of 174 eyes were examined 1 month, 3 months, and 3 years after SMILE. Examinations included uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and manifest refraction. Refractive predictability and stability was evaluated from the refractive error, calculated as the difference between intended and achieved refraction.

Results:

Preoperative refraction averaged -7.30 D. The mean refractive error was -0.16 D after 1 and 3 months, and -0.25 D after 3 years. Three months after surgery, 79% and 94% of eyes were within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D, respectively. After 3 years, equivalent figures were 75% and 89%, respectively. In patients with intended post-operative emmetropia UDVA averaged 0.02 logMAR (n=145) after 3 years. After 3 months, 3 eyes showed a 2-line loss in CDVA; however, after 3 years, no eyes had suffered a significant loss in CDVA and 12 eyes had gained 2 or more lines.

Conclusions:

In the present study, SMILE showed high refractive predictability for 3 years after surgery, although a minor refractive regression seemed to occur. The average visual outcome after surgery was good, and the initial loss in CDVA in 1.7 % of eyes after 3 months could not be found after 3 years; suggesting that late corneal remodelling or neuronal adaptation influence upon the visual outcome after SMILE.

Financial Interest:

One of the authors travel has been funded, fully or partially, by a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented